Validation of supercritical water oxidation to destroy perfluoroalkyl acids

Abstract Some of the same unique physical and chemical properties that make per‐ polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) desirable for a wide range commercial applications render them recalcitrant to many liquid treatment technologies. As developments in PFAS‐related toxicological studies increasingly suggest potential adverse human health effects, our industry has made great progress past several years on concentrating PFAS into small volume waste streams via adsorption separation mechanisms. Coupled with residual PFAS‐containing products are being phased out, management these concentrated presents an urgent need development validation destructive Here, we field‐validate supercritical water oxidation treat stream 12 perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) gaseous analysis, adhering recent Other Test Method 45 stack emission sampling from United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) USEPA 537.1, quality control assurance protocols Department Defense/Department Energy Quality Systems Manual 5.3. Results generated greater than 99.999% destruction removal efficiency PFAAs after two ∼120‐min continuous flow trials, overall defluorination percentage approximately 62.6%.